Jaded Steel stood over Script's grave, a bouquet floated in a wavering grip. Tulips were always her favorites, especially in orange, it was barely a month since she left. He still comes every day, a new bouquet in hoof, grieving, wondering, but not crying. Not anymore. Not since the funeral.
Is she happier now? Wherever is she? Is she at peace? Does she know the pain she left him with? But most importantly, is she free?
He hoped so, mostly, definitely, probably. It's hard some days.
The sun is warm on Jaded's back as he walks to work, doing nothing to thaw the cold hole that only Script's light once filled. Sometimes he hates the sun, now. So bright and warm and shining and nothing compared to her. But then he sees the sunset or rise and is reminded of how much Script had loved the sun, the majestic painting of bold colors as it neared and left the horizon, and doesn't hate it quite so much.
He pulled out his punchcard and clocked in, dropping off his lunch in the break room. Not caring or noticing the others, barely managing to be present for customers. Simply going through the motions in a job that once brought him joy and dispassionately weaving tiny metal pieces into beautiful shapes that would have once brought a proud smile to his face.
After about an hour of working unsuccessfully, he decided to take his lunch a little early. He slowly walked over to the break room and went to grab his lunch then sat at the table.
---
Script plopped into a chair in the break room, another exhausting start to her day at her second job. She opened her lunch bag, pulling out a daisy sandwich.
“Is this seat taken?”
Script looked up. “Oh, hey! Jaded Steel, right?” She asked.
“Yeah, how have you been?”
Script put on a big smile and said; “I’m fine you?”
Jaded gave Script a weird look. “You sure you’re okay? You seem… off…”
Script’s ears folded back as a slight smile grew on her face. “You see right through me, don’t you?” She muttered.
Jaded sat down next to her putting a hoof on her shoulder. “Wassup?”
Script let out a sigh. “Ember and I broke up…”
“Oh, Script, I’m so sorry. You doing alright?” Script shrugged in reply. “Well, I’m here if you need anyone to talk to.
Script took a bite out of her sandwich and just mumbled in response.
“I have an idea, what if we went out for a movie to take your mind off things?” Jaded asked.
A slight smile grew on Script’s face. “Yeah, that sounds nice.
---
Jaded let out a sigh as he stood up, throwing his lunch in the trash. He then walked back into the central area of the store looking for his boss. He couldn’t be very productive as long as he had Script on his mind.
Once he said he was leaving, he walked toward the door, clocked out, and left to return home.
As he walked home, he passed by Script’s house. He quickened his pace to avoid the tears that began to well up in his eyes.
Suddenly he realized he had bumped into somepony. He backed up, finding Script’s friend, Ellie.
“Oh, sorry Ellie. I didn’t see you there.”
“Nah, it’s alright, no harm done,” Ellie replied. “You doing okay by the way?”
Jaded just stared at the ground kicking his hoof around. “Yeah, I’ll be fine…” he muttered.
“Alright, just know we’re all here for you.” Ellie patted him awkwardly on the back. “It really was a good home, Script, and I spent many months saving up for it for her and now she’s not here to fill it.
“Yeah, I guess…”
I’m going to buy it for her.” Ellie took a steadying breath, Giving Jaded a shaky smile. “I would hate to see somepony put all of Lilly’s gardening to waste.”
Jaded was taken aback at what she had said. “How dare you!” He growled. “Why would you wanna destroy her memory?!”
“What, No!” Ellie exclaimed. “Why would you think that?
“Oh,” Jaded looked at Ellie confused. “Then why are you buying the house?”
“It’s my way of preserving her memory, like a museum, y’know?”
“Oh, sorry. I shouldn’t have assumed.”
Ellie shrugged. “It’s alright, you didn’t have the context before.”
“I’m gonna get home, need some sleep to catch up on.”
“Okay, want me to check on you tomorrow?” Ellie asked.
Jaded shook his head. “Thank you, but no,” Jaded said as he walked off.
“Okay, I’ll see you around then?”
“Yeah, later.”
Jaded couldn’t handle another moment thinking of Script. He began running toward his house and slammed the door once he got inside. He ran upstairs into his bedroom and collapsed onto the bed and began sobbing.
---
Script and Jaded walked together holding hooves. Script wore a long sleeve sweater even though it was the middle of summer. They were walking away from the ice cream shop, ice creams in their grasp. After a few moments of silence, Jaded spoke up.
“Can I ask something, Script?”
“Sure.” Script shrugged.
“Why are you wearing a sweater in this heat?” Jaded asked.
Script’s eyes opened wide as she stuttered, trying to find some excuse. “I uh… I’m a little cold,” she muttered.
Jaded gave her a suspicious look. “Have you been cutting again…?”
Script’s ears folded back as a frown grew on her face. “Just like always, you see right through me…”
“Let me see.”
Script looked at her coltfriend in shock. “Jaded, I-”
“Let me see, I wanna help.”
Script let out a defeated sigh as she rolled up her sleeves and displayed her cuts. She looked away and waited for the shocked gasp to come, but instead, he gently grabbed her chin and pulled it toward him, so she was facing him. A look of sorrow was in his eyes as he gently grabbed her hooves and held them tight.
“You are beautiful, Script,” he uttered. “Never forget that. I love your voice, just hearing your laughter brightens my day. You’re so caring and kind, you don’t want anyone to be hurt. I never wanna let you go, Script, I love you so much.
Tears filled Script’s eyes as she wrapped her hooves around her coltfriend.
---
Jaded looked over at his dresser, staring at the photo of him and Script. He would be joining her soon. He then looked back at the knife in his hoof. He then brought it up to his other hoof, slashing quickly, quick enough that he barely felt any pain. He then proceeded to do the same to his other hoof.
Suddenly, his head started to feel fuzzy and he collapsed onto the floor, blood oozing from his hooves.
---
Jaded opened up his eyes finding himself in a flower field. He looked around amazed, then his eyes spotted somepony in front of him. He couldn’t believe who it was. He saw Script Singer staring back at him, a smile on her face.
“Hello, Jaded,” she said.
Tears fell down his face as he stared at his marefriend. He ran up to her, embracing her, holding her tight. “I’ve missed you so much, babe…” he said.
“I know you have, my love.” She gave him a peck on the cheek and grabbed his hoof, leading him forward.
“Where are we going?” Jaded asked.
“I want to show you something that will just take your breath away.”
Jaded stared off into the distance, staring at a large oak tree. “Wow,” he muttered. “It’s beautiful.”
Script let out a soft giggle. “You’re such a sap sometimes, I love you anyway.~”